The role of Army National Guard Special Forces domestically and in Special Operations Command - North

Abstract

The Army National Guard Special Forces has a unique position that allows state governors to call upon the group to support domestic operations and provide additional forces for the United States Army Special Forces Command when needed. The necessity to coordinate the emerging domestic operations being undertaken or discussed by the Army National Guard Special Forces has been identified as a shortcoming by senior leaders of the Army National Guard and their Special Operations advisors, but little has been done to ensure the coordination and collaboration is executed. The newly established Special Operations Command – North is ideally situated to assist in this effort. This thesis examines the difficulties of coordinating operations conducted in a Title 32 status across state lines and with a command element that is a Title 10 force. Additionally, given the unique laws and policies that dictate defense support to civil authorities, this thesis analyzes what the Army National Guard Special Forces has done and is currently doing and how Special Operations Command – North can fit into the homeland defense mission set. This thesis concludes with recommendations on developing the relationship between the states, Special Operations Command – North and Special Operations Command’s Global SOF Network and where the manpower and funding can come from for the emerging relationship.